History of Rosh Hashanah

History of Rosh Hashanah is inspired through traditions that have come over from one generation to another. Jews follow them like their parents and grandparents. Sometimes it leaves us puzzled with its colored faces. And we love to explore more about it. Hence, lets dive into the History of Rosh Hashanah and unfurl the age-old veil of mysticism draped into it. History of Rosh

Hashanah trace back to Babylonia as the name of the month, Tishrei, is of Babylonian origin and means "Beginning". Tishrei is the first month of the Jewish year.

There is another name for the month Tishrei in the Bible, Malachi I chapter VIII, v.2, called ‘Yerach Eitanim'—the ‘moon of the stalwarts'—because their forefathers were born in that month and they are the pillars of the world. Moreover, it was on Rosh Hashanah, that our foremothers—Sarah and Rivka conceived, as did Hannah, mother of the prophet Shemuel [Samuel].

Rosh Hashanah—Jewish New Year is celebrated on the first and second of Tishrei i.e., the day from which we calculate dates, and the beginning of the Ten Days of Penitence, also known as "Ben Kesseh Le'Assor", where Kesseh refers to Rosh Hashanah and Assor to the tenth day, Yom Kippur, i.e. the ‘period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur'.

The zodiac sign for this month is scales or balances, presumably because day and night are of equal length. According to tradition, too, this is the month when the deeds of Creation are judged. Rosh Hashanah is also in itself a "The Day of Judgment".